Many Faceted

Turning over a new… facet?

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So it occurs to me that I’ve only posted five times this year. No good excuse for that, really. Is anyone still reading? [crickets]

I can’t seem to find a theme I like, my topics bounce around… well, let’s face it, I’d rather fiddle with the stylesheet than write a post. I like thinking about writing posts, but no posts actually get written. I still like posting jewelry pictures though, so my Pinterest boards are reasonably active. I’ve started two “visual archive” type blogs, on ancient and antique jewelry, as a sort of miniature, self-hosted Pinterest. (For a few reasons. Read about them here.)

Since last we met, I took a wonderful class on carving wax models for casting (which I didn’t blog about), and have had the past two months off my jewelry lessons, as my teacher was on the road (nothing to blog about.) I have finished a few more stone boxes for Gem Ident (blog-worthy), and have a goal to be done with the boxes by early January (highly blog-worthy, should it occur as scheduled.) I have my eye on several museum exhibition catalogs, as there’s a lot of amazing jewelry exhibits on, mostly in places I’m unable to visit (questionably blog-worthy?)

I expect to start making jewelry pieces for sale this fall/winter, once I have access to a workshop again. I am taking commissions on a very limited basis (limited by time — I have very little of it.) For now, I work in sterling silver, with the loveliest stones I can get my hands on. I really need to revive my Etsy and list my resin pieces there, if there’s interest. (Hint: comment if interested.)

A note for subscribers: I have changed the subscribe-to-posts email service, so if you got two of these emailed to you, please keep the MailChimp one and unsubscribe from the other one. (The new one has a pretty amethyst graphic at the top.) If you only got the WordPress one, please unsubscribe, and fill in the form again here on the site to get on the new list. Finally, if you got this blog post and aren’t sure why, you joined a mailing list for my jewelry business, and I have combined two lists into one. (I promise not to post so often as to be annoying, but if this isn’t what you want to read, please feel free to unsubscribe.)

Twelve Weeks of Silversmithing

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Rainbow moonstone pendant, May 2013

I know, I know. Twelve weeks of silversmithing lessons, and NO BLOG POST? (I need to write about Gemstone Identification as well; save that for another day.) What can I say? It’s been a busy spring summer year.

I started taking weekly silversmithing classes in Medford at the beginning of May, from Bob Sharp, a local jeweler and lapidary (and fellow Roxy Ann member.) I don’t have any of my own equipment yet, so it gives me a chance to practice the process of making things, with some help and supervision. I’ve made several pieces now, and I definitely think I’m improving, though I have a long way to go.

Finished larimar & rainbow moonstone pendant, May 2013

Mostly what I’ve made are bezel-set gemstone pendants. Nearly everything has been a gift — I like making jewelry for other people, that’s nothing new. My first piece (left) was for my sister’s 25th birthday, and was probably more complicated than I should have attempted, but I think it came out well.

Bezels, before trimming, one got a little... melted. July 2013

It’s been an interesting few months. Soldering is getting easier, but it can still be mysterious (did I say mysterious? I meant “insanely difficult”.) Sometimes, things don’t go as expected (example at right: partially melted/burnt bezel, top right.) Sometimes the stone isn’t really cut well for setting. Sometimes I file really well, and sometimes I file off part of my fingernail (in a bad way.) Some nights I get a ton done in three hours, and other nights (like this past Thursday), every tool I need to use is malfunctioning, and everything I do takes three times as long as it should.

I have two more weeks of class. At the end of August, my teacher is out of town for two months, so I’m finishing up two more pieces (a bracelet, and a ring), and then I’ll have a break. I’m trying (when I remember to bring my camera) to document the process, so you can see how it starts, what the middle stages look like, and how it comes out as a finished piece. Enjoy the photos!

Rainbow moonstone pendant, May 2013

Star ruby and labradorite pendants, June 2013

Star ruby and labradorite pendants, June 2013

Finished larimar and quartz drusy pendants, July 2013

Pendant bezels in progress, July 2013

Finished larimar & rainbow moonstone pendant, May 2013

Larimar & rainbow moonstone pendant, in progress, May 2013

Small labradorite cabochon and bezel (for a ring), in progress, July 2013

Larimar and quartz drusy pendants, in progress, July 2013

Quartz drusy pendant, in progress, July 2013

Labradorite cabochons and bezels in progress, July 2013

Larimar pendant, in progress, July 2013

Rings!

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Copper wirework ring with moss agate

For the past few weeks, I’ve been working on wirework rings — a bit challenging, given the number of wires one has to control, all at once, but with a pretty nice result (I think.) I made a few practice rings in copper wire, before attempting more costly metal. The below ring (a special present) is pink and yellow gold-filled wire, with a dreamy peach-colored moonstone I found in Tucson.

Gold-filled wirework ring with peach moonstone

Interested in a ring of your own? I take commissions!

Design Class, Gemology, etc

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Some finished design sketches from Design class, February 2013
Some finished design sketches from Design class, February 2013

I meant to do a whole post on the Design class I took at Revere Academy last month, and lookie here, it’s a month later. Oops. To sum up, I had a great weekend in San Francisco, learned a lot, loved the school, and I can’t wait to take another class there, once they reopen at their new location (conveniently, across the street from their old location!)

I did a lot of drawing in two days, much more than I’m accustomed to, and it felt good to put ink to paper, in quantity, without caring (much) about the result (which was the point, to get ideas out without too much inner-critique.) I learned a bit about jewelry rendering — how to shade, how to make metal look like metal, etc. There’s two classes that go far more in-depth into rendering, both with dry and wet media. We made “jewelry” out of foil, designed things based on patterns in nature, and learned about generating original ideas, and documenting the idea development process. Useful stuff!

What else? I’ve been working with wire lately, studying two instructional DVDs from Wire-Sculpture.com. So far I’ve made an all-wire bracelet (like a cuff, but with a clasp), and a wire-work cabochon ring. My one picture of those is pretty lousy; I’ll take another one soon.

I just finished box #22 in Gemstone ID; I have 14 more boxes to go (280 stones), which means I’m almost halfway through the 500 stones I will examine throughout the course. There’s a lot left, but at the same time, I’ve seen a lot already! (Over 200!)

Unrelated (yet sortof related), I retired from my spaceflight blog this week, and in a way, Many Faceted has become my personal blog. I’m documenting my various gem/jewelry pursuits and adventures, and it’s fun to share! (I’ll be launching another jewelry blog soon, more research and article-oriented.)

Thanks for reading, and for anyone who came over from Silver Rockets, hello and welcome!

PS: When did this site get so pink? Can you tell I haven’t looked at it in a bit? LOL

Silversmithing Class #2

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Moonstone ring in sterling silver, made by me!
Moonstone ring in sterling silver, made by me!

I took my second silversmithing class over the weekend, despite a lingering cold, and made my first ring! Rings are my favorite kind of jewelry, so I’ve been wanting to dive in and try my hand at one. (Bracelets are a close second-favorite; probably because both can be easily looked at and played with by the wearer… in this case, ME.)

I feel like I learned a lot over the course of the day; it’s been nine months since my first lesson, and it was a little awkward getting used to the torch again. I definitely need to practice filing, and I’d like to learn more about hand-finishing pieces. Overall, I’m happy with the inside of the ring shank, and the finish of the ring in general. The stone is a touch loose, but I think I can fix that with a couple of tools that I don’t own yet.

Hoping to take another lesson in March, when my instructor returns from the wonderland that is Tucson. Next up for me: a two-day jewelry design class in February, at Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts in San Francisco! SO EXCITED!

Moonstone ring in sterling silver, made by me

Back of ring, with hammered shank

Moonstone ring in sterling silver, made by me

Now we’re cooking with gas!

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My new gemological microscope!
My new gemological microscope!

Not quite in time for Christmas, but certainly in time for my next stone box: I finally own a microscope! Not the best microscope in the universe, but it’s great for a start. Already it’s making my schoolwork so much easier….

A citrine in my stoneholder
A citrine in my stoneholder

First post… take two.

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Hello, and welcome (back) to Many Faceted!

After being repeatedly hacked over the course of 2012, I’ve reinstalled this website from scratch. I hope to import my previous content (pages and posts) shortly, but the site may be a bit plain for a while. Thanks for stopping by!

Starting Gem Identification

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My first box of stones!A few weeks ago, I started Gem Identification, the last class I need for my Graduate Gemologist degree. Over the span of the class, I will receive a total of 500 gemstones to analyze at home, using my own lab equipment. (20 stones per box, 25 boxes.) This culminates in the final, a 20-stone “all or none” challenge, where I have six hours to correctly identify 20 stones. “All or none” means exactly what it says – if I miss one stone, I fail. (I can retake it, but it will be with another box of stones, which will probably be completely different.)

I have the required set of equipment (10x loupe, refractometer, polariscope, spectroscope, dichroscope, tweezers, flashlight to stare into), plus a short-wave/long-wave UV lamp (which is great fun for making things fluoresce. Like diamonds. Or cool rocks.) The one piece of equipment that isn’t required, which I’ll probably get eventually, is a microscope. It has better indirect lighting (“darkfield” lighting), making it easier to see things inside the stone that are low-relief. (Some of those things can tell you whether the stone is natural or synthetic, for instance. Important stuff!)

I received my first box of stones on July 20. This box is used with the first several lessons, to help train you in using the various pieces of lab equipment. The stones in box 1 are chosen to show good/obvious examples of various things: a characteristic spectrum, or obvious features visible with magnification, or a specific reaction under the polariscope. After learning about the instruments, I analyzed and correctly identified all twenty stones. (The course gives a lot of helpful hints.)

After I “passed” this box, I sent it back, and am waiting for the next one to arrive. (Cue Jeopardy music.)

So far I’m really enjoying the course. I’ve always liked “lab” better than “lecture” — I guess I’m the hands-on type? — and it’s fun to get a stone to reveal it’s secrets…. I can’t wait to get my next box!

My First Jewelry Sales Adventure

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Pendants and strung necklaces by Many Faceted, Mt. Shasta 4th of July street fair, July 2 & 3, 2012Well, it’s official: I’ve sold my first jewelry pieces!

On July 2nd and 3rd, I had a booth at the Mt. Shasta 4th of July street fair (the Mt. Shasta Boulevard booths come down prior to the 4th, to clear the way for the fun run/walk, and the parade.) Although I have experience working and cashiering for someone else, this was the first sales booth I ran myself, with my own goods featured. It’s a lot of work! (Captain Obvious, at your service.)

Resin pendants, beaded necklaces and earrings by Many Faceted

It took a while to set up, mostly because I had a lot of things to display and arrange. I could swear my inventory grew overnight; I don’t recall there being as many when I put the tags on! (The pictures you see are from the first day; I didn’t have time to take any the second day.) I got a lot of compliments on the colors and decorations at my booth, and some great feedback on my jewelry.

Resin pendants, strung beaded necklace and wirework earrings by Many Faceted Bracelets, necklaces, pendants and earrings by Many Faceted

That said, because the 4th fell mid-week, attendance was low, and I made only a few sales. (My little sister would like everyone to know that she made one of those sales, while I made a lunch run.) However, I now have a lot of inventory to try on consignment locally, and on my Etsy store, now open for business! (NOTE: Only some items pictured here will go on Etsy; if you see something you like, let me know and I’ll gladly put it aside for you!)

Many Faceted at the Mt. Shasta 4th of July street fair Resin pendants and wirework earrings by Many Faceted

Fortunately, I earned enough from my sales to order more equipment for my gemology studies, and my posts will be swinging back in that direction for a while. Next up: a horribly belated account of my unexpected trip to San Francisco to hear a double lecture by one of the world’s great jewelry historians, Dr. Jack Ogden.

Resin pendants by Many Faceted